Over 100 Inyo County sophomores recently completed an overnight field trip across California, visiting three distinct college campuses to explore post-secondary education and future career opportunities. The excursion, which took place over the first two days of October, saw 108 students and 12 chaperones journey to Cal State Bakersfield, Cal Poly San Luis Obispo, and Cuesta Community College. This trip marked the conclusion of a series designed to help high schoolers make informed decisions about their academic futures, with post-trip surveys indicating a significant boost in student confidence regarding college as an achievable goal.
Sunny Ceron, Assistant Principal and TK-12 School Counselor for Big Pine Unified School District, highlighted the program's impact. Ceron commented that the opportunity allowed students to "explore different educational pathways, experience diverse campus environments, and envision possibilities they may not have otherwise considered." She also expressed gratitude for the Inyo County Office of Education’s continued efforts to make such experiences accessible. The hope, Ceron added, is for students to gain a broader perspective of their futures and the confidence to pursue opportunities, understanding that their origins do not limit their potential.
The group departed Inyo County on the morning of October 1, making their first stop at Cal State Bakersfield. Students experienced campus life by eating lunch at the Runner Café dining hall. Following lunch, student guides led the group through various campus facilities, including major academic buildings, recreational complexes, and student housing. Many students reportedly found viewing a furnished dorm room to be a significant highlight of the tour. Despite a challenging Central Valley heat wave, the group continued their journey to the cooler climate of San Luis Obispo, arriving at 5:30 p.m. for dinner at Woodstock’s Pizza and an exploration of the city’s downtown Farmers Market.
The itinerary on October 2 focused on Cal Poly San Luis Obispo. After a comprehensive campus and bookstore tour, students attended a special panel featuring Inyo County alumni. Local graduates Mylee Patton from Lone Pine High School (class of 2025) and Nora Cimino from Bishop Union High School (class of 2019) were among the panelists. Other alumni studying at Cal Poly and Cuesta, or working locally, also shared their experiences. These graduates offered valuable insights on choosing a major, navigating financial aid, and balancing academic and social life on and off campus. Students noted that hearing from the Inyo graduate panel at Cal Poly was a positive aspect, with another highlighting the exploration of campus STEM buildings.
Following a second collegiate dining experience at Cal Poly’s Vista Grande, the group concluded their trip with an afternoon visit to nearby Cuesta Community College. Guides at Cuesta detailed the college's diverse selection of certificate programs, vocational tracks, and associate degrees. They also explained the pathway for transferring credits to Cal Poly and provided information on available financial aid options. The two-day excursion proved highly successful; post-trip surveys revealed that 86% of participating students reported feeling more confident that college is an achievable goal for them. A second group from Lone Pine High School is scheduled to undertake the same itinerary in November, extending this impactful program to more local students.
This impactful program was organized by the Inyo County Office of Education (ICOE) with essential assistance from Bishop, Big Pine, and Lone Pine schools. The ICOE extended its sincere gratitude to the dedicated chaperones and drivers who ensured the trip was safe and successful. These individuals included Sunny Ceron, Dave Calloway, Christie Nesbit, Alice Bruck, Stephanie Perez, April Nafeh, Devan Yarnell, Corinne Quintana, Bri McGovern, Alisa Brooks, Pat Slee, and the Bishop Union High School Link Crew leaders. Special thanks were also extended to the admissions and campus staff at Cal State Bakersfield, Cal Poly SLO, and Cuesta College for their warm hospitality throughout the tour.
